More fun than a barrel of monkeys! That's what it's like when Nate (D. Nathan Hilliard) and I set up at Denny's with our laptops showing each other websites, interesting blogs, comments, and pics we've discovered during the week. Honestly, when we get together, we're like two kids let loose on the premesis!
It felt really, really good to laugh from the depths of my gut. Personally, I've had a start to a rough week last week, but it certainly ended well, and am looking forward to next. (that is, other than the stupid facebook hacking job bestowed on me, it ended on a good note :) )
Tomorrow is "buckle down" time and get back to a novel I've been working on with protagonist, Becky McAllen...she's going to come up against a teen-ager, and doesn't quite know what to do with the over-sized brat!
Lots of homework still looms for me on my personal Life's Learning Curves -- this time to challenge my patience at html for the upload to Kindle, which will be happening at the end of this week.
Still smilin', keeping my head up, and hoping all aspiring writers to complete what they've begun. Because that's the best place to start!
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Showing posts with label writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writer. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
A Writer's Validation
Had the opportunity to listen to three men on a blog-talk radio station yesterday. My jaw is still dropped. Now, for this post, I will not name any names, so don't ask.
First of the men introduced was self-published and his sales went through the roof...NY picked him up with a nice tidy advance.
Second man was NY published and has since self-pubbed. For various reasons, this happens to many NY mid-list authors.
Third man is with NY and would never consider self-pubbing, except maybe for some of his old 'out of print' backlist.
This was my take on the one hour show-- each man in turn toots NY publishing. And all three made it clear that in order to be considered a "GOOD" writer, you would have to (a) have a NY publishing contract; (b) have had a NY contract; or (c) only be a writer accepted by one of the big 6.
My jaw is still dropped.
What's interesting is the Second Man--he pushes ebooks, just like small/indie published writers, sales his ebooks just like small/indie published writers, but yet, he clearly stated that unless the writer had been with NY, their writing was CRAP.
WHAT???? As many readers can verify, even some NY published writers, write CRAP!
This program made me see RED, and I just had to blog about it.
Once again, I'll repeat myself--it takes time and patience to write a well written book. It doesn't happen overnight. And anyone who has persued this career knows that learning never stops.
So, what validates a writer? Not the publisher, not another writer, and certainly not family.
The reader does. *grin*
Happy Trails,
Cherri
The Scent of Money
First of the men introduced was self-published and his sales went through the roof...NY picked him up with a nice tidy advance.
Second man was NY published and has since self-pubbed. For various reasons, this happens to many NY mid-list authors.
Third man is with NY and would never consider self-pubbing, except maybe for some of his old 'out of print' backlist.
This was my take on the one hour show-- each man in turn toots NY publishing. And all three made it clear that in order to be considered a "GOOD" writer, you would have to (a) have a NY publishing contract; (b) have had a NY contract; or (c) only be a writer accepted by one of the big 6.
My jaw is still dropped.
What's interesting is the Second Man--he pushes ebooks, just like small/indie published writers, sales his ebooks just like small/indie published writers, but yet, he clearly stated that unless the writer had been with NY, their writing was CRAP.
WHAT???? As many readers can verify, even some NY published writers, write CRAP!
This program made me see RED, and I just had to blog about it.
Once again, I'll repeat myself--it takes time and patience to write a well written book. It doesn't happen overnight. And anyone who has persued this career knows that learning never stops.
So, what validates a writer? Not the publisher, not another writer, and certainly not family.
The reader does. *grin*
Happy Trails,
Cherri
The Scent of Money
Sunday, July 18, 2010
I found my thrill
It's 4:15am and I'm taking a quick break from my current work in progress (WIP). What a thrill it is for a writer to wake up in the middle in the night with words pushing out in abundance to get typed on screen or written on paper.
This is what I live for.
The characters in this story are unfolding before my very eyes, giving me insight into their lives that I certainly didn't predict them to go. This is what's called, "listening to the inner voices." And sometimes they can really surprise us.
As in all my short stories and novels, this novel also has a German shepherd. She's smart, funny, and full of herself. She reminds me so much of our Brie! (but with a little more attitude-lol)
Coffee's perked, the house is quiet, except for the people vying for attention in my head--so I must return to my writing.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
This is what I live for.
The characters in this story are unfolding before my very eyes, giving me insight into their lives that I certainly didn't predict them to go. This is what's called, "listening to the inner voices." And sometimes they can really surprise us.
As in all my short stories and novels, this novel also has a German shepherd. She's smart, funny, and full of herself. She reminds me so much of our Brie! (but with a little more attitude-lol)
Coffee's perked, the house is quiet, except for the people vying for attention in my head--so I must return to my writing.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Back in the Saddle
Finally straightened my head back on my shoulders and have quit jumping from project to project. To fix my dilema of writer's A.D.D., I spent the majority of last night plotting out a new series. I'm back on track and am NOT going to fall off the saddle again.
This series will, of course, include Penny Nelson's wonderful German shepherd, Alibi. She's cute, fiesty, and full of spinach and vinegar.
The first in this series will leave you gasping--as my protagonist is going to take some pretty bold chances in life. Just wait till you see what she does to the person who murdered her grandfather!
Excited, happy, and writing on--
Happy Trails,
Cherri
This series will, of course, include Penny Nelson's wonderful German shepherd, Alibi. She's cute, fiesty, and full of spinach and vinegar.
The first in this series will leave you gasping--as my protagonist is going to take some pretty bold chances in life. Just wait till you see what she does to the person who murdered her grandfather!
Excited, happy, and writing on--
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer Solstice
It's HOT! I'm already dreaming about Winter and wishing for snow.
This weekend was dedicated to my husband. Steve and I cooked, laughed, held hands, and spent quality time together. Funny how when old married couples grow used to the other and forget -- we actually sat down and remembered our dreams, our goals from when we first married. We've accomplished quite a few! And are still adding to that list of goals. We live simple lives...we like it that way. It takes only a second in time to complicate and we've chosen the harder route by striving to keep it simple. It works for us.
However, in between the meals and chats, I wrote non-stop in my mind. I've got a great plot running around and can't wait to get started plotting that rascal out. My goal to begin this project is July 1st of this year. And I'm looking forward to see what I can do to with it on my own. (I hear rumblings from the pubbed groups out there-Don't! Wait! Are you out of your mind?????) To all the nay-sayers, it's gonna be okay. By the time this novel is finished, I'll have a strong plan for promoting and am anxious to see how it does--on my own! What have I got to lose? Heck, I'm a newbie writer, so not much. Living by words of wisdon--"if you don't try something new once in a while, the outcome will never happen."
Happy Trails, keep smiling with your chin up--
Cherri
This weekend was dedicated to my husband. Steve and I cooked, laughed, held hands, and spent quality time together. Funny how when old married couples grow used to the other and forget -- we actually sat down and remembered our dreams, our goals from when we first married. We've accomplished quite a few! And are still adding to that list of goals. We live simple lives...we like it that way. It takes only a second in time to complicate and we've chosen the harder route by striving to keep it simple. It works for us.
However, in between the meals and chats, I wrote non-stop in my mind. I've got a great plot running around and can't wait to get started plotting that rascal out. My goal to begin this project is July 1st of this year. And I'm looking forward to see what I can do to with it on my own. (I hear rumblings from the pubbed groups out there-Don't! Wait! Are you out of your mind?????) To all the nay-sayers, it's gonna be okay. By the time this novel is finished, I'll have a strong plan for promoting and am anxious to see how it does--on my own! What have I got to lose? Heck, I'm a newbie writer, so not much. Living by words of wisdon--"if you don't try something new once in a while, the outcome will never happen."
Happy Trails, keep smiling with your chin up--
Cherri
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A Lick of Sense
Recently I encountered someone who informed me they had never met a dog with a lick of sense. At first, I thought about it and then realized I would just have to talk about it.
If you took an average four-story office building and put all the people together and squeezed out their 'common sense,' you wouldn't have enough to fill a thimble.
Yet, every dog I've met could overflow a barrel with good old fashioned 'common sense'. Why? It's simple. Dogs act and react using Mother Nature. They don't analyze everything to death--they act upon the situation, using Nature's instinct. Still, dogs hold compassion and honesty, never swaying in their decision.
In every book I write, in every short story, I include dogs. Why? Because a sense of pride fills my heart to share some of our dog's antics. As I've said before, I'm partial to the German shepherd breed and can not give you a reason why I'm drawn to that particular breed, anymore than I can explain why my favorite color is red. They just are and it just is.
To write with my pack of dogs surrounding me is the perfect zen for my environment. They touch the softest, most tender part of my soul--my spirit.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
If you took an average four-story office building and put all the people together and squeezed out their 'common sense,' you wouldn't have enough to fill a thimble.
Yet, every dog I've met could overflow a barrel with good old fashioned 'common sense'. Why? It's simple. Dogs act and react using Mother Nature. They don't analyze everything to death--they act upon the situation, using Nature's instinct. Still, dogs hold compassion and honesty, never swaying in their decision.
In every book I write, in every short story, I include dogs. Why? Because a sense of pride fills my heart to share some of our dog's antics. As I've said before, I'm partial to the German shepherd breed and can not give you a reason why I'm drawn to that particular breed, anymore than I can explain why my favorite color is red. They just are and it just is.
To write with my pack of dogs surrounding me is the perfect zen for my environment. They touch the softest, most tender part of my soul--my spirit.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Another Great Writer's Night Out
The Scent of Money. Went to Denny's for another enthusiastic Writer's Night Out! D. Nathan Hilliard, author of The Ways of Khrem
and I spent an evening discussing promotions, food, children, dogs, and everything else in between. The food was tasty, the coffee hit the spot, and we laughed at the world and its problems--in a good way.
One day when the publishing industry settles and the dust has cleared, we'll reveal to the world some of our predictions--and the crystal ball we used to conjur up some of the things we've invested our humorous-clad time developing.
On a more serious side to the writing business, it is truly the best of times and the worst of times to be published. Depending on the route taken. For me, promoting is like busting through doors not having a clue what's on the other side. I've screamed, I've laughed, and I have almost fainted from the costs that I'm seeing being funneled from writer's pockets. This is a tough business and should not be entered into lightly. Savvy is the word needed here. Very savvy!
Would I do anything else with my life? Don't think so. You see, I am a writer...a mystery writer driven to do just that--write.
For anyone who loves to read, my book, The Scent of Money
is the first book in a series. The sequels are coming, so keep looking! And the Kindle
is one fine way to read. I love ebooks.
My Steven is asleep and all four of our dogs, who are our fur-kids are nodding off...so shall I.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
and I spent an evening discussing promotions, food, children, dogs, and everything else in between. The food was tasty, the coffee hit the spot, and we laughed at the world and its problems--in a good way. One day when the publishing industry settles and the dust has cleared, we'll reveal to the world some of our predictions--and the crystal ball we used to conjur up some of the things we've invested our humorous-clad time developing.
On a more serious side to the writing business, it is truly the best of times and the worst of times to be published. Depending on the route taken. For me, promoting is like busting through doors not having a clue what's on the other side. I've screamed, I've laughed, and I have almost fainted from the costs that I'm seeing being funneled from writer's pockets. This is a tough business and should not be entered into lightly. Savvy is the word needed here. Very savvy!
Would I do anything else with my life? Don't think so. You see, I am a writer...a mystery writer driven to do just that--write.
For anyone who loves to read, my book, The Scent of Money
is the first book in a series. The sequels are coming, so keep looking! And the Kindle is one fine way to read. I love ebooks. My Steven is asleep and all four of our dogs, who are our fur-kids are nodding off...so shall I.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
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